Using God's Gifts to Give Back

I'm so excited about today's blog post. Recently, I posed a question to sponsors on the OurCompassion forum asking how advocates, sponsors, and other compassionate people are using their creativity to raise money to meet their Compassion goals.

I was STUNNED by the many and varied ways that sponsors around the globe are using not only their unique talents, but also their sheer ingenuity to afford sponsored children and contribute to Compassion's other, equally important funds (for example, child survival, clean water initiatives, at-risk children, and malaria prevention).

The respondents graciously allowed me to share the ways they creatively fund raise on my blog, and I hope that by sharing our stories with you I will not only raise awareness for their stores, products, and efforts, but also spur you into ACTION using your own creative talents for Christ!

Without further adieu....

1.Donating proceeds from sales

There are many amazing people out there who are donating all or a portion of the proceeds from items they make and sell to Compassion.

Lizzie, a teenager and absolutely amazing role model, has an ETSY shop called madefromscratch4u.etsy.com where 100 percent of the net profit is donated to either the child survival program or is used pay for child sponsorships. Lizzie's shop features a wide variety of handmade items, from sponsor bracelets (featuring beads from the countries where sponsored children live) to crochet items.

Lizzie's Sponsor Bracelets for Compassion

Naomi, a fabulous photographer in Sacramento, California (whose photographs are so touching they brought tears to my eyes) donates a minimum of 20% of the gross of all sales to Compassion.  http://www.naomiharrisonphotography.com/giving-back/
Naomi also hosts Mother and Child mini-portrait sessions to benefit the Child Survival Program. http://www.naomiharrisonphotography.com/2013/04/30/sacramento-photographer-mothers-day-portraits/

Katie, operator of Churchill Crafts - beautiful baby gift items and handmade accessories, dedicates 100% of profits from her etsy store to Compassion sponsorships, child and family gifts, and birthday gifts for her sponsor and correspondence children.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChurchillCrafts

Fun and Fabulous baby items from Churchill Crafts

Jennifer N operates Shop with Compassion on Etsy - ultra creative and unique nursery book storage slings in gorgeous modern fabrics-- and  100% of her profits go towards sponsorships and child and family gifts, along with trips to visit her sponsored children via Compassion.

Awesome Nursery Book Storage from Shop with Compassion

Amanda Watts. has a facebook business, Watts Knots and Knicknacks (great name!) where she sells hats, bows, headbands, and other items. Portions of her sales go towards child sponsorships. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Watts-Knots-and-Knicknacks/259858294055808?ref=hl

Custom headband from Watts Knots and Knicknacks

Donna Kirckof draws members of her side-saddle forum on their horses at no cost with the no-obligation request of a compassion donation.

Michelle from Blogging From the Boonies has created watercolor paintings in exchange for $20 donations to Compassion.

Kayla tie-dyes T-shirts and sells them to raise funds for sponsorship.

And, finally, I operate an online ETSY store, Conspiracy of Love, where I sell handmade jewelry. 100% of my proceeds go to Compassion child survival program and  at-risk children's funds. I also make soaps and lotion bars for family and friends in exchange for donations. www.etsy.com/shop/ConspiracyofLove

Handmade jewelry from Conspiracy of Love

2. Write a book

Okay, so probably most of us can't do this... at least I know I can't. And I guess technically this is part of the list above, but I was so excited by this sponsor's contribution I felt it needed it's own category. Nineteen-year-old author Sydney Lorraine Danielle (yes, you heard me, 19 - crazy, right??) has just finished a young-adult fantasy adventure titled "This Deadly Quest," which will be available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon beginning August 2013. 100% of proceeds will be used for child sponsorships and birthday gifts. Pre-orders can be arranged via, isamscia@outlook.com. Sydney's website is www.isamscia.com.

3. Hosting Yard Sales

Many sponsors have hosted yard sales to benefit Compassion. I hosted one with another sponsor not long ago, myself, and was amazed at how much we were able to donate as a result. Yard sales are great, low-expense ways to rid your home of clutter and raise money for children who don't have the luxury of all that "stuff"!  Jesus told the rich man to sell all he had and give the money to the poor. The VERY least we can do is sell all the stuff we don't want and give the money to the poor, don't you think?

4. Host events

Lizzie, the same Lizzie mentioned above, rides her bicycle and encourages others to hold bika-a-thons to fund child sponsorships. You can support Lizzie's goal of reaching $1,000 through bicycling at http://gogetfunding.com/project/cycle4compassion

Lizzie cycling for Compassion

Casey, a skin care specialist, will be demonstrating "Water for Life" units in her spa studio and encouraging customers to contribute to the clean water fund at Compassion.

Michelle from Blogging From the Boonies hosted a (soggy) walk for Waters for Life where she was able to raise enough money for 26 water filters! See her account on her blog, here http://www.bloggingfromtheboonies.com/2012/07/walking-in-water.html. Michelle has also participated with her family in "One Meal One Day" where you donate the cost of skipped meals to Compassion. Read her account here: http://www.bloggingfromtheboonies.com/2013/03/thoughts-on-empty-stomach.html

5. Sell your blood

Okay, really your plasma. Honestly, I had never thought about selling plasma for Compassion. It would never have occurred to me. I remember friends in college who sold plasma for a little extra cash, but what a sacrifice to sell your own plasma for the benefit of Compassion! That's what Emily at OurCompassion did to raise money for sponsorships while she was in graduate school. The really cool thing is you're actually doing something good times 2...you're providing much-needed plasma AND donating money to those who really need it!

SO there you have it... I know there are a TON more wonderful examples out there, and I WHOLEHEARTEDLY thank those who sent me their creative fundraising ideas.

I hope you'll take this opportunity to visit the links I've posted, and to support the vendors listed above. Please consider them for Christmas, Birthday, Wedding, and Shower gifts this year to help them in their efforts to reach out to children in need! I also hope you'll be moved to use your own skills for God's honor! 

Congratulations, Goodbyes, Hellos, and FREEBIES!!!

One of my correspondent children, Banji Mariyadasu, has left our family fold this month. Thought I truly never got to know Banji, because he was assigned as a correspondent child in January of this year and finished the program on April 1, I do hope that the letters and cards I have sent him have and will continue to touch his life in some small way. I am so very proud of Banji for completing the Compassion Program as a successful graduate, for finishing his education to a 12th grade American equivalent, and for....securing a JOB!!! Way to go Banji Mariyadasu! You are well on your way to breaking the bonds of poverty and I am certain you will become a rock for Christ Jesus!

Congratulations Banji!!

Only a few short days after losing Banji to graduation, we have welcomed a new correspondent child into our fold. This sweet boy is 6 year old Manikandan Palsamy from India. Isn't he handsome?? I just sent my first introductory letter and a packet of goodies to him yesterday. I'm looking forward to getting to know Manikandan and supporting him through encouragement and love in the coming months and years. Won't you please say a prayer for our Banji as he takes the next steps into his future, and for Manikandan as we begin a relationship with him?

Welcome, Manikandan!

Speaking of Hellos... On the amazing Our Compassion sponsor forum, discussions went around not long ago about templates for writing to your sponsored children, and Michelle from Blogging From the Boonies asked if anyone had developed child-friendly templates (e.g., templates younger children could use to correspond with sponsored kids). I think that's a great idea for young kids, especially since I have a 2.5 year old and sometimes struggle with how to involve him!

Several people popped up with excellent templates, including and especially Elephant Grace, who also offers correspondent kits. I thought I might take a stab at the challenge, as well. So, here are the first of my downloadable templates (more to come in the future) for young children to correspond with your sponsored child! Just click on the photo and it should take you to a pdf for download. These templates are specifically geared toward very young kids (e.g. ages 2 to 5) who may need help writing, so that they can feel like they are a part of the sponsorship experience. 

I'm hoping in the future to develop downloadable sponsor packets by theme for those who might need a quick solution or might just be getting started.

Thanks for stopping in, I'd love your feedback about the templates, I'd love your thoughts about themes for future packets, and I'd love your prayers. I'd also really love it if you'd pass my blog along and if you'd check out my ETSY store...100% of purchase price for all items on my store goes to Compassion Child Survival Programs!! GREAT for Mother's Day (which is coming up--so don't forget your mom!). To date, over $400 has been raised and donated through my site/sales thanks to your generosity and purchases!

Conspiracy of Love handmade jewelry for Compassion

Responsible Sponsoring

There's something really exciting about clicking the "Sponsor This Child" button at the Compassion website. You've probably thought and prayed about it for a while (or maybe you felt led to do something and you just KNEW it was the right thing at that moment), and you've looked at the many beautiful faces on the site, and you've selected a child and *boom* now you are a sponsor.

Those of us who sponsor know there's a little "high" that comes from pushing that button. You're making a difference for that person. You're doing something great. It's a bit...well...addictive.

So...I'd like to take a minute to advocate responsible child sponsorship. As much as I want every person who is financially able to sponsor at least one child, I do want people to remember that these are indeed children. These are little people with souls and feelings...feelings that are easily hurt because they have been let down before. People who deserve not only our compassion, but our respect and our commitment.

What do I mean by responsible sponsorship? One of the beautiful things about Compassion International is the way they promote relationship building between sponsors and their children. Children become aware of you as their sponsor. They learn your name. They learn about your family. Hopefully, you are taking the time to write your children (if you are not, please take a minute to read this blog post by Michelle at "Blogging from the Boonies!  You'll start--I promise!). They are developing a real relationship with you, and through that relationship they are learning that they are important!

So what happens if they are dropped by their sponsors?  I know it happens, and sometimes it truly cannot be avoided. Life happens and there are circumstances that are beyond our control. Sometimes sponsors really do have to drop a child. But, I really encourage sponsors to PRAY HARD before dropping a child. To that child, it is rejection all over again. I guess what I'm saying is...these kids aren't playing cards to be passed around...you know?

Okay, so let's say you are thinking you'd love to help Compassion but you're pretty sure you can't sponsor for more than a month or two....should you choose not to sponsor?  Hmmmm.  I think only God can answer that for you, but I have a few thoughts. One is, think outside the box... If you have cable, consider cancelling it and signing up for Netflix or Hulu.  Or just ditch TV all together, I promise there's nothing good on anyway.  (Really. We don't really need to see Duck Dynasty, do we?? It's more depressing than entertaining...). Or, try getting a class to go in together and raise enough money to sponsor for a year...then do it again the next year and the next and the next...

Or, consider sponsoring a child who is older, and close to graduating from the program.  That sponsorship will be much shorter in commitment time than a young child who has at least a decade to go in the program.

Other ideas: hold fundraising walks, runs, garage sales, set up an ETSY shop, bake sales, collect your loose change, put all your birthday money toward your compassion kids, ask for money for sponsoring in lieu of birthday and Christmas gifts...  God will provide if you are creative in looking for ways to continue sponsoring.

However, if you don't have the time or money to commit to a child sponsorship....consider a one-time donation, instead. Children without sponsors need that money to continue the program. You are helping IMMENSELY without the commitment. You will miss out on the joy of the relationship with a unique child, but you will be helping in a great way, and possibly in the way in which you are needed at that precise moment.  Consider Compassion Child Survivor Programs, or the Aids initiative.

You can still help, even if you can't afford to sponsor full time. Please help, even if you can't afford to sponsor full time!  God will use what you give... he blesses every gift that comes from the heart, even the widow's mite (Mark 12:41-44).

Shameless Plug

Well, today's blog post is going to be a shameless advertisement, I'm afraid... I was inspired by fellow Compassion blogger, Lizzie, to open my own ETSY store selling jewelry to benefit Compassion Child Survivor Programs.

Lizzie is an extraordinary sponsor. Not only is she dedicated to the children she sponsors, and running an online store selling items to donate money to Compassion, but she is doing so at the young age of 14!

Lizzie is the very heart and soul of what Compassion stands for--the knowledge and realization that young people really CAN make a big difference in their communities, and across the globe. I so appreciate young people who are willing to go out on a limb, set aside selfish desires, and embrace a lifestyle that identifies with helping others.

So anyway, I was inspired by her own ETSY store, which led me to begin making some paper bead jewelry. As happens with most hobbies that pass my way, my simple "nothing but paper beads and elastic" bracelets quickly veered off into a thousand other directions, so that now I am making wire crochet and illusion necklaces, as well as earrings and children's identification bracelets.

I opened my new little online store Conspiracy of Love (haha, sound familiar?) yesterday evening with a half dozen listings, and more to add as soon as I get a chance between work and caring for my son. Every dollar goes to Compassion Child Survivor Programs, which help care for mothers and babies who might otherwise suffer from malnutrition or who lack access to pre-and post-natal healthcare.

So far I have been able to donate $63 to the CSP from sales made at a local event last weekend, and I have an additional $20 ready to donate this weekend. I'm very excited, and hope that I will be able to generate a modest amount over time for this important part of Compassion's mission.  Please pass the word along!